Melodie Cheney gets ready for work in the living room of her home at the Buena Vista trailer park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. Cheney has owned her single-wide trailer at Buena Vista for the past 13 years. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Image 1 of 13 - Low cost housing in Palo Alto

Melodie Cheney gets ready for work in the living room of her home at the Buena Vista trailer park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. Cheney has owned her single-wide trailer at Buena Vista for the past 13 years. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Melodie Cheney gets ready for work in the living room of her home at...the Buena Vista trailer park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March...14, 2013. Cheney has owned her single-wide trailer at Buena Vista for...the past 13 years. The owners of the property have applied for...permission from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer...and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Image 2 of 13|Low cost housing in Palo Alto

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

Melodie Cheney is seen the kitchen of her single-wide trailer at the Buena Vista mobile home park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Image 2 of 13 - Low cost housing in Palo Alto

Melodie Cheney is seen the kitchen of her single-wide trailer at the Buena Vista mobile home park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Melodie Cheney is seen the kitchen of her single-wide trailer at the...Buena Vista mobile home park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March...14, 2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission from...the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the...residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Image 3 of 13|Low cost housing in Palo Alto

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

Trailer homes are seen at the Buena Vista mobile home park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Image 3 of 13 - Low cost housing in Palo Alto

Trailer homes are seen at the Buena Vista mobile home park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Trailer homes are seen at the Buena Vista mobile home park in Palo...Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The owners of the property...have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell the land...to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the...site.

Image 4 of 13|Low cost housing in Palo Alto

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

A cat mobile hangs from Melodie Cheney's home at the Buena Vista trailer park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Image 4 of 13 - Low cost housing in Palo Alto

A cat mobile hangs from Melodie Cheney's home at the Buena Vista trailer park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

A cat mobile hangs from Melodie Cheney's home at the Buena Vista...trailer park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The...owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to...close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of...the 117 homes on the site.

Image 5 of 13|Low cost housing in Palo Alto

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

Melodie Cheney is seen outside her single-wide trailer at the Buena Vista mobile home park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Image 5 of 13 - Low cost housing in Palo Alto

Melodie Cheney is seen outside her single-wide trailer at the Buena Vista mobile home park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Melodie Cheney is seen outside her single-wide trailer at the Buena...Vista mobile home park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14,...2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the...city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the...residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Image 6 of 13|Low cost housing in Palo Alto

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

Melodie Cheney walks through the kitchen of her single-wide trailer at the Buena Vista mobile home park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Image 6 of 13 - Low cost housing in Palo Alto

Melodie Cheney walks through the kitchen of her single-wide trailer at the Buena Vista mobile home park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Melodie Cheney walks through the kitchen of her single-wide trailer at...the Buena Vista mobile home park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday,...March 14, 2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission...from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict...the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Image 7 of 13|Low cost housing in Palo Alto

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

Dolls and beer steins fill shelves in Melodie Cheney's home at the Buena Vista trailer park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to close it and sell the land to a big developer, and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Image 7 of 13 - Low cost housing in Palo Alto

Dolls and beer steins fill shelves in Melodie Cheney's home at the Buena Vista trailer park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to close it and sell the land to a big developer, and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Dolls and beer steins fill shelves in Melodie Cheney's home at the...Buena Vista trailer park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14,...2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the...city to close it and sell the land to a big developer, and evict the...residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Image 8 of 13|Low cost housing in Palo Alto

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

Saul Bracamontes enters his mobile home at the Buena Vista trailer park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Image 8 of 13 - Low cost housing in Palo Alto

Saul Bracamontes enters his mobile home at the Buena Vista trailer park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Saul Bracamontes enters his mobile home at the Buena Vista trailer...park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The owners of...the property have applied for permission from the city to close it,...sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117...homes on the site.

Image 9 of 13|Low cost housing in Palo Alto

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

Saul Bracamontes arrives at his home at the Buena Vista trailer park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Image 9 of 13 - Low cost housing in Palo Alto

Saul Bracamontes arrives at his home at the Buena Vista trailer park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Saul Bracamontes arrives at his home at the Buena Vista trailer park...in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The owners of the...property have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell...the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes...on the site.

Image 10 of 13|Low cost housing in Palo Alto

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

Christmas ornaments decorate a small tree at Saul Bracamontes' mobile home at the Buena Vista trailer park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Image 10 of 13 - Low cost housing in Palo Alto

Christmas ornaments decorate a small tree at Saul Bracamontes' mobile home at the Buena Vista trailer park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Christmas ornaments decorate a small tree at Saul Bracamontes' mobile...home at the Buena Vista trailer park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday,...March 14, 2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission...from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict...the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Image 11 of 13|Low cost housing in Palo Alto

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

After watering the garden in front his home at the Buena Vista trailer park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013, Arnold Vasco said he's concerned about his children's education if he and his family are evicted. Vasco lost his job at the Nummi car assembly plant a few years ago and relocated to Palo Alto because of its schools, and the trailer park was the only affordable option for him. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Image 11 of 13 - Low cost housing in Palo Alto

After watering the garden in front his home at the Buena Vista trailer park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013, Arnold Vasco said he's concerned about his children's education if he and his family are evicted. Vasco lost his job at the Nummi car assembly plant a few years ago and relocated to Palo Alto because of its schools, and the trailer park was the only affordable option for him. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

After watering the garden in front his home at the Buena Vista trailer...park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013, Arnold Vasco...said he's concerned about his children's education if he and his...family are evicted. Vasco lost his job at the Nummi car assembly plant...a few years ago and relocated to Palo Alto because of its schools, and...the trailer park was the only affordable option for him. The owners of...the property have applied for permission from the city to close it,...sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117...homes on the site.

Image 12 of 13|Low cost housing in Palo Alto

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

Saul Bracamontes walks through the kitchen of his trailer home, where a photo of his six-year-old son Andre hangs on the refrigerator, at the Buena Vista trailer park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Image 12 of 13 - Low cost housing in Palo Alto

Saul Bracamontes walks through the kitchen of his trailer home, where a photo of his six-year-old son Andre hangs on the refrigerator, at the Buena Vista trailer park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Saul Bracamontes walks through the kitchen of his trailer home, where...a photo of his six-year-old son Andre hangs on the refrigerator, at...the Buena Vista trailer park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March...14, 2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission from...the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the...residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Image 13 of 13|Low cost housing in Palo Alto

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

Giovanni Vargas (rear) plays soccer with his son Leo, 2, (left) and neighbor Miguel Landa, 7, at the Buena Vista mobile home park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Image 13 of 13 - Low cost housing in Palo Alto

Giovanni Vargas (rear) plays soccer with his son Leo, 2, (left) and neighbor Miguel Landa, 7, at the Buena Vista mobile home park in Palo Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The owners of the property have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell the land to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the site.

Giovanni Vargas (rear) plays soccer with his son Leo, 2, (left) and...neighbor Miguel Landa, 7, at the Buena Vista mobile home park in Palo...Alto, Calif. on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The owners of the property...have applied for permission from the city to close it, sell the land...to a big developer and evict the residents of the 117 homes on the...site.

The Buena Vista Mobile Home Park is a rare enclave of affordable housing in Palo Alto where low-income tenants can live nicely and send their kids to great public schools. But for the longtime owners of the complex, running the place is a chore they’d rather be done with — so they’re trying to sell it to a company that wants to tear out the mobile homes and put in luxury apartments.

The resultant debate cuts to the heart of a major issue in Silicon Valley, one of the most expensive places to live in America: How to balance the need for affordable housing for those who don’t pull high-end paychecks with the right of people to do what they want with their property.

You can see what residents of Palo Alto’s only mobile-home park are doing to try to save their homes by clicking here.